A cobpobation of new



F. DUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION nun om. a. mo.

Iuwnted Mg. 15, 1916.

Elnuumkoz FMW anew

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BUTCHER, 0F VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Do'rcnan, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yersailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes and more especially to that type which is circular in shape and composed of one or more separate parts between which an explosive tablet or compound is placed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a torpedo involving my present improvement. Fig. 2 is an inverted perspective view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a slight modifier tion. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the parts of the torpedo in separated relation.

The general form of torpedo here shown is well known and it comprises a top portion 1 which has an outwardly bulged part 2, and an annular flap or flange 3. An explosive tablet 5 is made'of a shape to fit within the cavity 4 formed by the bulged portion 2, and a disk (3 is ilaced over the explosive tablet and made oi a size corresponding to the size of the top portion and including the flange 3 thereof. The cavity 4 has a layer of waterproof cement '7 placed therein before the tablet is placed in position, and then a waterproof cement coating 8 is placed on the outer flat side of the tablet and the disk 6 then placed in position. No cement is placed between the flap and annular flange 3 of the top 2 and the disk 6, which is the case with paper or fibrous torpedoes of this type heretofore constructed so far as Iam aware.

The rail-engaging strap 9 is attached to the torpedo by means of a second disk 10 which has strap receiving openings 11;

This disk 10 is of a size corresponding to the size of the disk 6 and is placed outside thereof as shown. The annular flange 3 of the top or cover portion 2 and the edges of the .disks 6 and 10 are united by suitable stitches 12. The completed torpedo is then subjected to a very thin coating of shellac or other suitable waterproofing compound which will fill the openings or interstices formed by the stitching, and a waterproof torpedo is provided.

As shown in Figs. 2 and?) the rail-engaging strap passes through the openings 11 and between the disk 10 and the disk 6. Cement is placed under the rail-engaging strap thus filling the openings 11 which lie under the strap, and this cement serves to bulge the strap upward as shown at 13, Figs. 2 and 4, thus preventing the strap from moving endwise on the torpedo and looking it in place against accidental removal. However, the bulges in the strap 9 cement suflicient to cause the bulges may be omitted as shown in Fig 3.

One of the objects of this improvement is to unite the flanges of the separated parts of the torpedo without the use of cement or metal. When cement is located between the flanges of the parts of the torpedo at a point or points outside of the explosive, a hard annular flange results, and when the torpedo is exploded this hard annular flange will sometimes segregate and fly in particles that would inflict injury to a person standing by. In the construction here shown, the annular flange is composed solely of paper and fibrous, stitching, and therefore of such a nature that when it flies, it will not inflict injury to any one who might be standing near.

A further object of my present improvement is to connect the rail-engaging strap to the torpedo without the use of any metal whatever, and in a simple, cheap and cilicient manner.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved railway torpedo comprismg a two-part case, an explosive within the case, the case having a laterally extending annular flange, and a disk a lied to the case, the two-part case and (llS( united by sewing only, the disk having openings to repeive a rail-engaging strap. and a rail-enand the gaging strnp passing through the said opening s.

2. An improved rnilwny torpedo comprising a ,two-piu't .cnse hzwin an annular lhnwe, an explosive within tie case, n disk npp ied to the bottom of the case, the flange of the two-part curse and the disk united by sewing only, the disk hnvin openings 10- ClltOtl between the sewing nm the center of Ii. W. JuNiu-m, A. MACDONALD.

Oopiu of thin potent any be obtained for an out: oh, by droning the "Oomrnlnioner of Patents.

WuhlngtomIL-O." 

